Court is no Gordon Market, magistrate to cop
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Image for illustration only. For image info, go to https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=social+justice
Court is no Gordon Market, magistrate to cop
PORT MORESBY: Waigani Traffic Court magistrate Paul Nii on Thursday (May 27, 2021) told a Senior Constable attached to the Office of the Police Commissioner, that the court is not Gordon Market.
Read on why Nii ticked off Sr Const Tau Naliga that way.
Respect court: Cop told
May 28, 2021The NationalMain Stories
By ZEDAIAH KANAU
MAGISTRATE Paul Nii yesterday told Sr Const Tau Naliga, who is attached to the Office of the Police Commissioner, that the Waigani Traffic Court is not Gordon Market where he could leave any time he wanted.
“Defendant (Naliga), you are in court. Please have respect for the court. Before you go out, you must seek leave and if authorisation is given, then (only) you may leave,” Nii said.
“This is not your Gordon Market place or your office for you to just move in and out. This is contempt.
“If I cite you with contempt, I will hold you accountable.
“You are a policeman. You should know what control and command is in the police force. And control and command in the police force includes the respect you are supposed to give to the court.
“A warrant of arrest was issued and today, you gave an excuse, so we revoked the warrant and had bail reinstated.
“The custom and tradition of the court is that when you are here in the witness box, until and unless the court authorises you to leave, that is when you close your case, then you may do so.”
Sr Const Naliga also forgot to bring a copy of a medical report but Nii said he would not accept any new evidence.
The case was adjourned to Monday for ruling.
Sr Const Naliga is accused of crashing a vehicle along the Porepona Freeway in Port Moresby in the early hours of March 11.
He was charged with driving without due care and attention.
Court to rule on driving without due care case
May 28, 2021The NationalNational
SENIOR Const Tau Naliga, from the Office of the Police Commissioner, charged with driving without due care and attention and crashing a vehicle, will know his fate when Magistrate Paul Nii delivers his ruling on Monday.
Sr Const Naliga denied allegations that he was intoxicated and crashed the car. Instead, he claimed that he was framed.
He said in the Waigani Traffic Court that there was no alcohol in the vehicle, accusing other policemen of setting him up after the crash along the Porepona Freeway in Port Moresby on March 11.
He claimed that he was chased by a security firm vehicle from the Hohola tunnel roundabout after he swore at them.
When Sgt John Wamugl asked why he was being pursued, Sr Cnst Naliga said: “I swore at them because they (security firm) failed to give way.
“I was by myself, I was in uniform and I panicked because I was by myself and it was the early hours of the morning.
“I arrived at the (Courts) roundabout, checked the rear view to see whether the vehicle was still chasing me but lost concentration and went off track. I am unable to recall what happened next.”
Sr Const Naliga said it was not a marked police vehicle.
Sgt Wamugl also asked him about the beer bottles found in the vehicle.
Naliga said: “That night, I did not drink.
“Currently, with Sylvester Kalaut and Fred Yakasa’s case, the police leadership has two factions.
“They can frame to tarnish the police commissioner’s name because they know I work for the police commissioner.”
Earlier, the prosecution’s only witness, Sr Const Frank Loo testified that in his 10 years as a police arresting officer, he had arrested many policemen like Sr Const Naliga.
Nii will make a ruling on Monday. Naliga is out on a K500 court bail.
Comments
Post a Comment